Colostomy belts



Aug. 14, 1962 F. T. MccLosKEY 3,049,123

COLOSTOMY BELTS Filed Feb. l1, 1960 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent O 3,049,123 CGLOSTOMY BELTS Florence T. McCloskey, 7126 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Feb. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 8,054 4 Claims. (Cl. 12S- 283) This invention relates to colostomy belts, and more particularly it relates to an improved colostomy belt having both re-useable and disposable characteristics.

It is customary for a person who has undergone a surgical colostomy operation to utilize sanitary means to protect the colostomy opening in the -abdominal wall and to provide for sanitary discharge of waste matter. Heretofore, various devices have been utilized for this purpose, these devices generally comprising a body circling band having atixed thereto an impervious material arranged so as to be readily placed over the colostomy, with the inter-position of a portion of absorbent material which may be disposed of periodically upon `the soiling thereof. In the event, however, that the portions of the prior art devices which are not designed to be disposed of should become soiled, it is necessary to clean and preferably sterilize the complete article before reapplying it to the body for use. Likewise, periodic general cleaning of the device is -also necessary, which fact necessitates the availability of at least two such devices in order that the person may be continuously protected. Such sterilization may weaken conventional materials such as elastic bands and certain impervious materials, -as well as the material forming the belt itself.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved colostomy belt of such simplified and inexpensive construction that it is readily disposed of.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a colostomy belt which has limited re-useable characteristics.

It is another object of this invention to provide a colostomy belt which is of such size and configuration as to be substantially unnoticeable when worn under the clothes of the wearer.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description Aand from the drawings wherein:

FIG. l represents a perspective view of a colostomy belt formed in 4accordance with the structure of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines and in the direction of the arrows II-II of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional perspective view taken along the lines and in the direction of the arrows Ill-lll of FIG. l.

Referring now to FIGURE l, there is shown a fully extended costomy belt 11 constructed in accordance with this invention, comprising a single length of iiexible absorbent material forming a body portion 12, a central pocket portion, 13, an impermeable sheet 14 disposed within said pocket portion, and enclosed by the material forming the pocket portion 13, and a pair of superimposed tiaps 15, 16. Body portion 12 is preferably constructed of `an inexpensive material having suitable tensile strength such as high strength paper towelling or the like. Alternatively body portion l12 may be made of such materials as surgical gauze or diaper material. While any absorben-t material would be generally suit-able for such use, it is recognized that economy of production is an important feature of the article of my invention, and the choice of materials is therefore preferably limited to inexpensive materials.

Body portion `12 is reinforced at the edges thereof by means of folds 17, 18, 19, 20, and stitching 21.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3, pocket portion 13 con- Mlee sists of a plurality of layers of sanitary absorbent material 22 stitched under folds 18 and 20 by stitching 21. The enclosed sheet .14 is seen to be of dimensions substantially the same as the inside dimensions of the pocket portions 13, whereby substantially no misalignment of sheet 14 may occur. As thus constructed, three layers of the absorbent material 22 cover the sheet 14. More or less layers may be utilized depending on the thickness of material 22 which is preferably made of a non-irritating material such as surgical gauze, diaper fabric, or the like.

In addition to absorbent material 22, aps 15, 16 comprise a multi-ply terable absorbent material having an edge thereof affixed to body portion -12 by `fold 20 and stitching 21. Tissue paper products such as facial tissue and toilet tissue -may be utilized for this purpose.

A pair of complementary fastening devices 23, 24 are affixed to opposite ends and surfaces of -body portion '12.

In order to use the article of my invention disclosed in FIGURES 1-3, the colostomy patient merely encircles his body with the extended belt 11, taking care to center the tixedly positioned impermeable sheet 14 over the colostomy opening in the abdominal wall with flap 16 against the colostomy, and thereupon securing the free ends of the body portion '12 to each other by the fastening means 23, 24. Other sui-table fasteners, such as pins, clamps, adhesive materials or the like, may alternatively be used. In use, the impermeable sheet .14, held in place by the material of pocket portion 13 prevents seepage of waste material `from the colostomy opening onto the clothes of the wearer, any such Waste material being maintained within the outline of sheet 14, and liquid material incidental thereto being absorbed into flaps 15, 16 and the absorbent material 22. The complete belt 11 is readily disposed of at periodic intervals in accordance with the wearers sanitary habits, and since sheet 14 may be readily inexpensively formed from such materials as plastic, rubber, and the like, it may be readily disposed of along with body portion 12, and the complete belt inexpensively replaced several times during each day, if necessary. By thus being totally disposable, the colostomy belt of my invention represents an improvement in such structures, since currently used devices of a similar nature are not readily totally disposable without incurring great expense, and therefore have limited sanitary characteristics. Furthermore, the colostomy belt of my invention occupies a minimum amount of space under the clothing of the wearer, and is practically undiscernible when worn by the normally attired person. Conventional articles of this nature are of necessity of a bulky structure, and can easily lead to the embarrassment of the wearer.

During periods when waste excrement is slight, extended sanitary use of the belt of this invention may be made by successively tearing away the tissue flaps 15, 16. In this manner, it would therefore be possible, to use the belt over three periods of time, that is, rst with liap 16 exposed to the colostomy, then flap 15, and then the sanitary absorbent material 22 of pocket portion 13. This is assuming that the seepage of waste materials has only penetrated to an extent such that the remaining layers of absorbent material are unsoiled. In case of extreme seepage, flaps 15 and 16 permit extended use of the belt, by providing an increased number of inexpensive absorbent layers.

In emergencies, the belt 11 may be re-used after soiling by hand washing pocket portion 13 and the enclosed sheet 14, however, the primary advantage of the colostomy belt of this invention resides in its disposable characteristics.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment. Various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustrated and described herewith, parts may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently of the use of other features, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A fully disposable colostomy belt comprising (l) a one-piece elongated flexible body circling member having complementary fastening means at each end thereof,

(2) Ia sanitary absorbent member integrally afixed to said body circling member medially of the ends thereof, and covering a minor portion thereof, said absorbent member having an internal pocket formed therein,

(3) a flexible liquid impermeable sheet disposed within the pocket of said absorbent member whereby misalignment of said sheet With respect to said absorbent mem-ber is prevented,

whereby in the applied position said minor covered portion of the body circling member, said'absorbent member and said impermeable sheet form an integral colostomy protector.

2. The colostomy belt of claim 1 characterized additionally by the fact that there is affixed to said body circling member a exible tearable disposable absorbent flap, said flap covering a major portion of said absorbent member. Y

3. The colostomy Abelt of claim l wherein the body circling member comprises a high strength paper material.

4. The colostomy belt of claim 2 characterized further by the fact that `an edge of said flap is not aixed to said body circling member, Ithereby providing a gripping portion for removing said tearable disposablev member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Adams et al Nov. 1.8, 1952 

